How-To: Casual Up That Floor-Length Dress

May 22, 2012

Q. Hi Jordan,

I bought this dress at Banana recently: it’s strapless and floor-length which makes it feel formal, but lightweight and floral which makes it feel informal. I’m wearing it to a July wedding and am considering hemming it to the knee to get more use out of it afterwards…but I feel like part of why it’s so pretty is because it’s long.

A. Oh, leave it long! Short it’s just your ordinary strapless floral dress…long, it’s spectacular. After the wedding, you can totally wear it out to dinner at night with loose waves, a sheer navy blouse tied at the waist (buttoned or not; sleeves rolled up) and/or a denim jacket if it’s chilly, and some casual jewelry.